Board approves one‑year renewal of Aramark food services contract; one member votes no

The Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education voted to renew the district’s child nutrition management contract with Aramark Food Service LLC for the 2025–26 year, exercising the first of four optional renewals under RFP #24011.

District and Aramark representatives provided a joint update ahead of the vote describing the first year of Aramark’s service. Aramark vice president Derek Jones and the company’s district managers outlined a compressed startup timeline, personnel and operational challenges, and next‑year priorities. District Chief of Operations Joe Jennings and Superintendent Dr. Johnson told the board the district plans listening sessions with cafeteria managers and Aramark leadership to address concerns about implementation and workplace relations.

Aramark said it faced a large number of open positions at the start of the contract—about 150 vacancies, a 28% vacancy rate—and that recruitment efforts during the school year reduced open positions to “less than 50” by year end. Aramark reported reductions in temp labor spend and said it plans to add an Aramark HR manager focused on the account at no additional cost to TPS under the contract’s fixed mill rate. Aramark also described training initiatives focused on USDA production and claim accuracy and said it will conduct internal audits and daily checks of production records.

The Aramark presentation included meal participation context: Aramark said year‑to‑date total meals were down 1.9% year over year, but noted the district also lost service days to weather and dropped some breakfast‑in‑the‑classroom and dinner programs; when normalized for those changes, Aramark estimated meals would have been up about 4%.

Board members asked about food quality, the breakdown of meal costs, local sourcing opportunities and staffing plans for next year. Chief Jennings and Aramark said the account includes an executive chef focused on food quality and that menus and staffing adjustments will be a priority. Board members urged continuing improvement and collaboration with cafeteria managers.

The board voted: Ms. Smith and Ms. Ashley voted yes; Mr. Moniz voted no; Mr. Chrisant, Miss Carvey and Miss Willey voted yes; the motion passed.

District staff said they will schedule regular check‑ins among cafeteria managers, Aramark leadership and district operations, and Aramark said it would provide monthly updates to the board on account performance.